Pepperidge Farm expansion underway

WILLARD -- Pepperidge Farm broke ground yesterday on a $93 million expansion of its plant in Willard.

Gov. John Kasich joined Denise Morrison, Campbell Soup Company's president and CEO, and Irene Chang Britt, Pepperidge Farm's president, in a ceremony to mark the start of construction.

The investment will be made over the next two years and result in the installation of a new Goldfish cracker production line and a 227,000 square foot expansion to the site.

It is expected that 50 new jobs will be created once the expansion project is completed in May 2015.

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Britt said the expansion was being made to keep pace with the consumer demand for the company's top-selling Goldfish crackers.

"Sales of Goldfish crackers have been growing consistently during the past five years, and it is critical we expand our production capacity to stay ahead of this demand," Britt said.

"We appreciate the support we've received from the State of Ohio, JobsOhio, Development Finance Authority of Summit County, Huron County Development Council and the city of Willard for this project," Britt added.

"We are proud to be in a position to continue to invest in the local community."